Thanks, Hurt. There are videos of the Cream reunion on Youtube. The songs are all slower than the recorded versions but they still drive. The videos inspired me to try to get my band to play Toad.

I took a lesson from the college drum prof two weeks ago. He suggested I play along with some jazz recordings and focus on just the ride cymbal to make all the beats a consistent volume. It's been a long time since I did a "play along" but it really helps me make my accompanyment smoother and more comfortable for the lead players. Practicing is almost as much fun as playing out.

So - what do you guys practice? Is there a drum book you enjoy working in? Any patterns that you're digging currently?

I'm working on 5's. rlrrl repeat. Start on beat 4 and you'll land on 1 after 5 beats.
I also like Steve Smith's video lesson from a few years ago. I like his analysis and I can't help but admire his relaxed, smooth form.

I have the DVD. Sorry - I accidently misled you. I'm a solo six stringer who barely has time to play anymore. But I could still find my way through few Cream and Blind Faith numbers no matter how bad my hands hurt.

06-04-2013, 12:09 PM

Gaslight

Where's Neal Peart? John Bohnam? Charlie Watts? Interesting thing about Charlie Watts is that he has a jazz background, had his own jazz band, maybe still does, and drums for a rock band. Ever notice how "dis-interested" he always looks in the video's?

06-04-2013, 02:08 PM

hurtinhvac

All three were on the list we pulled up. Just watched Rush in Rio again the other weekend and was amazed anew at the talent level of those three guys. Never understood why many did not care for Rush. Peart is a stick twirling/tossing genious.

I wasn't going to get involved in this thread because I'll probably pi$$ off all the drummers out there but none of those guys doing the fancy solos impress me at all. I'm not saying they're not great drummers only that I am not impressed by their music. To me the great drummer is the guy that doesn't get noticed & just makes the song sound good. Listening to a drum solo to me is like listening to a guy practicing his chops. On a rare occasion I hear a drum solo that really moves me but it's because of its uniqueness & not the flash that most people get impressed by. I always remember doing a two guitar duet where I played rhythm & my partner played lead on a song. A year later after we broke up & he was playing the same lead on the same song & his new partner was known as one the best guitar players in town. The guy could do things on the guitar that I've never heard done by even some of the greatest players ever. After his set my old partner sat down & asked me " Why doesn't my solo sound as good as it used to when we played together". I told him simply that his great guitar player partner was doing too much & detracting from the music he was playing. A good musician knows that it takes a lot of work to get the technique down but the key is to know how to use it.

When I was a 17 to 20 years old I went to all the concerts. This was 1975 to 1978. I HATED the 10 to 15 minute drum solos. The really good bands didn't do them.

02-19-2017, 11:30 AM

hurtinhvac

Quote:

Originally Posted by exreo

When I was a 17 to 20 years old I went to all the concerts. This was 1975 to 1978. I HATED the 10 to 15 minute drum solos. The really good bands didn't do them.